Politics, Performance, and Patronage

In November 2000, India gave national recognition to the Dance of the Sattras of Assam, compelling it to live two lives – as religious ritual and as stage practice. This move has resulted in subtle yet significant changes to the dance—including the geography and gender of those practicing the dance, as well as its agenda, artistry, and content. This talk interrogates this federal maneuver as one driven by political expediency rather than artistic valorization.